At the Silk Road Forum held in Tbilisi on 26-27 October 2023, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan unveiled the "Crossroads of the World" initiative, with the Republic of Armenia being the central point where the main transit routes would intersect.

 Although some questioned the project's feasibility, it's pertinent to consider the geopolitical forces that would determine the direction of these routes toward the Armenian "crossroads." Under Armenia's control, which is currently in a state of "self-blockade" due to neighborly confrontations, the "corridor" has made an unexpected appearance.

James O'Brien, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, addressed the Zangezur corridor issue by stating that "any corridor should only be established with Armenia's consent. This will result in a transit boom for the countries in the region and global markets, as it will secure access to specific goods." Any transport corridor established without Iran's cooperation would face a robust reaction," he declared.

O'Brien stated that the US opposes Azerbaijan's plans to lay the Zangezur corridor without Yerevan's participation and that of its "patrons" through Iran. If Armenia stalls the process of unblocking the Zangezur corridor, the US would be opposing it.

The regime in Yerevan is being incorporated into a new global project known as the "crossroads of the world," which is being created before our eyes. The project aims to divide Eurasia to serve the interests of specific global players, the United States. The contours of this division are becoming increasingly apparent.

"Caucasus Plus" has already noted in their article "The Kurdish Project and David's Corridor" (https://kavkazplus.com/news.php?id=41534) that the USA and Israel are constructing a corridor as part of their "anti-Iranian campaign," stretching from Israel through Syria's Kurdish-inhabited regions, which are controlled by US and Israeli aligned Kurdish formations, all the way to the Iranian border.  This is in addition to the corridor Iran has constructed, stretching from its borders through Iraq and Syria to the Mediterranean Sea.

However, the creation of the "pro-American corridor" will extend beyond the "Corridor of David" and "cut" through Eurasia.    This is particularly significant due to the pre-existing "historical contours" between Iranian Kurdistan and the pro-American and pro-French nation of Armenia, which serves as a key hub of global trade and commerce.

Just before the creation of Israel in the Middle East involving the USSR, the same country established the "Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan'' in South Azerbaijan with Tabriz as its capital in December 1945. In January 1946, another state, the "Kurdish People's Republic'' with its center in Mekhabad (a city in the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan, home to the Kurdish community) was also created, which is now known as the Mekhabad Republic.

The territorial borders of this republic were peculiar. The region encompassed a slim tract running north from Mekhabad to the Araks River along the Turkish frontier. Even Azerbaijani settlements close to Turkey without Kurdish communities were integrated into the Mekhabad Republic. As a result, "pro-Soviet" South Azerbaijan lacked a natural border with Turkey.

Stalin, while outlining the borders of the forthcoming "pro-Soviet" and "democratic" republics, maintained his characteristic objectivity. He separated South Azerbaijan from Turkey by creating the "Mekhabad Republic", similar to how he divided the Azerbaijani SSR and the Turkic world located north of the Arax River with Zangezur, which was transferred to the Armenian SSR.

Nevertheless, Stalin failed to retain control over northern Iran. Soviet forces were pulled out of the region due to pressure from the US and Britain. In December of 1946, the "Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan" as well as the "Kurdish People's Republic" crumbled.

However, the recollection of the Republic of Mehabad lives on amongst the Kurdish populace. Currently, with an evidently forthcoming conflict between the US and Israel against Iran, separatist Kurds in Iran hold aspirations of its reinstatement, and assurances may have already been conveyed. There is a possibility that they may try to connect it with Armenian-controlled Zangezur on the northern bank of the Arax. It is possible that the newest maps may have already shown the northern extension of the "new Mekhabad Republic" towards the Arax River, where it borders the Republic of Armenia. Therefore, the "alternative" Zangezur corridor, which Iran helped build along the southern bank of the Arax, may be cut off.

These aspirations are not entirely unrealistic. After the US invasion of Iraq and the civil war in Syria, largely supported by the US, autonomous regions have emerged; Iraqi Kurdistan and Syrian Kurdistan. Though not yet formalized de jure, Kurdish extremists control substantial territories of Syria.

The Syrian regime is currently being processed for corridors, with the participation of Armenia. Such was Vice-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hakob Arshakyan's recent trip to Syria, during which he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and presented him with the "crossroads of peace".

One may question why al-Assad, who lacks real control over his territories, would require such a "crossroads of peace". However, al-Assad appears to be "convinced" to forsake his alliance with Iran as it is considered "destined to fail" and back American strategies. The Hayyis are pressurizing the Syrian authorities and claiming to act as "good investigators".

However, it is important to acknowledge the existence of investigators with malicious intent. France, the primary ally of Armenia, has recently issued an arrest warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad, accusing them of using chemical weapons against civilians in 2013. The warrant serves the dual purpose of exerting pressure on Damascus and sending a message to Assad's primary ally Tehran and other geopolitical forces. This action from France indicates its willingness to turn against Iran if a major war were to occur. However, France has not entirely relinquished its influence in Syria, which is demonstrated by Hakob Arshakyan's visit to Damascus, which occurred nearly simultaneously with the issuance of a warrant for Assad's arrest.

Grigol Giorgadze.